marigross

We will be picking up a rental car as we leave Barcelona for a road trip that will end in Valencia. In Barcelona we will be staying very close to Plaça de Catalunya and have to decide whether we want to get the car downtown (would still have to take the metro/bus/taxi) or take the airport bus back to airport and pick up the car there. We will be heading to Girona along the coast from there. We do OK driving in cities and following maps (with the notable and pertinent exception of trying to return a rental car in Pisa during rush hour.....shudder!).

The same situation for Valencia: return the car at the airport or in some location in town? We will be staying at the SH Hotel Inglés in Valencia and leaving by AVE a few days later.

Opinions or experiences, please?

lincasanova

If you don't have much luggage, the Valencia airport is not a bad idea ( although it would be further than driving into town) as you can take the metro from there to calle colon, and walk three blocks to your hotel. Or take a taxi from the airport for about 20E.

Otherwise, it is fairly easy to get into town from Barcelona as it is a straight shot into the city If you tell me the places you can drop off the car in valencia I will be happy to choose one for you and help navigate for you, even though you can get a google map, of course.

Nice choice of hotel You are going to be happy with the location for sure.

marigross

Lin ...it was on your rec (to other people, though!) that I chose the hotel.

On the way out of Valencia, what would be the best way to get to the AVE?

lincasanova

taxi definitely. The metro stop is a long block away and depending on if you don't even come out the right exit can be confusing.. even for locals. plus, add the few blocks from your hotel to metro. wait for metro.. not worth it. it is only 10 minutes by taxi.

Smeagol

We picked up our car in the Eiaxmple area of Barcelona ( just last week) we did get lost heading out of Barcelona, but that is because my map reading skills are next to useless, and the map I had was rubbish. Anyway the route to Girona is VERY easy, did this just at the weekend. I wouldn't get it from the airport, it's going in the wrong direction!

partypoet1

It might be a good idea to purchase a GPS, or if you have an iphone, to purchase a European plan. We just returned and there were times that we were very happy with the GPS capability of our iphone. In addition to locating our hotels, we also used the walking icon to find restaurants.

lincasanova

P.S. You do not want a car IN Valencia .Between parking and getting lost and a possible ( better said PROBABLE ) parking ticket or tow.. just not logical.

ekscrunchy

Digression ahead:

Mari: Did you, (or LInda, or anyone else) happen to see the recent House Hunters International show about finding a rental apartment in Valencia? (Music professor from Berklee College of Music heading to Valencia to work at their branch school)

I watch that show religiously and I have rarely seen an episode where the prospective renter was shown apartments as attractive as the ones in this show, for an incredibly reasonable price. He ended up in a multi-level apartment with terrace in the Barrio delCarmen. See if you can catch it on a rerun. The program did a good job showcasing the beauty of the city, too.

marigross

Lin, yes! We will drop the car off as we go into Valencia. I'm not sure if we should bring our stuff to the hotel and THEN return the car or return the car and then venture into town by bus or take a taxi....

eks, I have not seen that episode yet, it must be buried in the depths of my DVR because I also watch the show regularly.

As you probably know we are pre-scouting for places to establish ourselves for prolonged periods (maybe full relocating is too complicated financially, but we are working on it!) so we have high hopes for Valencia.

Lin, at one point you suggested a relocation specialist, would you have someone to recommend?

lincasanova

Hi Marigross. If you tell me the rental drop off areas I could tell you what may be most logical / stress free.

Also, if you want to email me at my screen name at yahoo dot com I can give you more details.

I hope to see that show. I wonder who showed him around. I'll have to take a look!

ekscrunchy

Linda: Try to see the show. I wish I remembered the name of the real estate person.

He was shown charming older 2 apartments in or near Barrio del Carmen, and one in a high rise newer building with a huge terrace, overlooking the city, near the river park and the City of Arts and Sciences, and also near his campus. I thought that each of them represented amazing value, when compared with other living places I've seen in other European cities. He was very keen on having outdoor space, and at least 2 bedrooms, near bars and restaurants.

http://www.hgtv.com/house-hunters-in...cia/index.html

baladeuse

There's a Europcar office at 680 Gran Via de las Cortes Catalanas, which is not far from Plaza Catalunya. That road leads directly on to the highway to Girona, ie you follow the Gran Via and it becomes the highway after you pass the roundabout. We rented a car there last month and it was very easy.

lincasanova

I have located the show but can't see the video from here.